Cougars Homestand Preview: May 2-7

GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, open a six-game homestand Monday evening and welcome the Lake County Captains (Cleveland Indians affiliate) May 2-4 while the Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres affiliate) come to town May 5-7. Homestand highlights include the first theme nights of the season on Thursday and Friday with Cinco de Mayo Night and Halfway to Halloween, plus Micro Monday, Thirsty Thursday and pre-game parades for members of Ozzie's Reading Club.

Tickets are available for each game on the upcoming homestand by calling the Cougars box office at (630) 232-8811 or by ordering online at kccougars.com.

Monday 5/2 - Lake County Captains (Cleveland Indians affiliate) - 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) - WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

• Pre-game Ozzie's Reading Club Parade
• National Anthem - Hermes Elementary
• Micro Monday featuring all craft beers for 50% off
• Fans can run the bases after the game (weather permitting)
• Post-game autographs with Zach Nehrir in the Cougars Den Team Store, presented by DeVry University

Tuesday 5/3 - Lake County Captains - 12 p.m. (gates open at 11 a.m.) - WBIG 1280 AM (11:45 a.m.)

• Pre-game Ozzie's Reading Club Parade
• National Anthem - Plano Middle School
• High School Sports Business Seminars
• Seniors Eat Free Day - free hot dog and small soda voucher for seniors age 65 & older
• Seniors Half Price Tickets on box, reserved and lawn seats (age 65 & older)
• Fans can run the bases after the game (weather permitting)

Wednesday 5/4 - Beloit Snappers - 11 a.m. (gates open at 10 a.m.) - kccougars.com (11 a.m.)

• Pre-game Ozzie's Reading Club Parade
• National Anthem - Abigail Lyne
• Color Guard - Steinmetz College Prep High School JROTC
• High School Sports Business Seminars
• Seniors Eat Free Day (free hot dog and small soda voucher for seniors)
• Seniors Half Price Tickets on box, reserved and lawn seats (age 65 & older)
• Fans can run the bases after the game (weather permitting)

Thursday 5/5 - Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres affiliate) - 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) - WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

• Cinco de Mayo Night
• Pre-game performances from Mariachi Michoacana and Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl
• Pre-game Ozzie's Reading Club Parade
• National Anthem - Dundee Highlands Elementary School
• Thirsty Thursday, presented by Miller Lite, with select beers, sodas and hot dogs for $1
• Fans can run the bases after the game (weather permitting)
• Post-game autographs with Cameron Gann in the Cougars Den Team Store, presented by DeVry University

Friday 5/6 - Fort Wayne TinCaps - 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) - WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 pm.)

• Halfway to Halloween Night, presented by All Dressed Up
• Fans are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes for pre-game parade
• Trick-or-treating stations set up throughout ballpark
• Special appearance from The Ghostbusters Chicago Division
• Pre-game Ozzie's Reading Club Parade
• Fischer Middle School Pep Band performance outside Gate 1
• Cougar Player of the Month announcement, presented by Physicians Immediate Care
• National Anthem - St. Charles Community Unit School District 303
• Fans can run the bases after the game (weather permitting)
• Post-game autographs with Gabriel Moya in the Cougars Den Team Store, presented by DeVry University

Saturday 5/7 - Fort Wayne TinCaps - 1 p.m. (gates open at 12 p.m.) - WBIG 1280 AM (12:50 pm.)

• Pre-game Ozzie's Reading Club Parade
• Pre-game performance by Discover Dance
• National Anthem - Band for Today
• Color Guard - West Aurora High School ROTC
• Fans can run the bases after the game (weather permitting)
• Post-game autographs with Ozzie T. Cougar in the Cougars Den Team Store, presented by DeVry University

Homestand Notes

Ozzie's Reading Club - The Cougars reading incentive program is back for its third decade in 2016. This season, the program includes more than 400 Chicago area schools and 140,000 students who are improving their reading skills through Ozzie's Reading Club. Participating students who complete reading goals set be their respective teachers are awarded a ticket to an April or May Cougars game, a food voucher, official Ozzie's Reading Club bag and the opportunity to participate in the on-field parade before the game. Ozzie's Reading Club is sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, The Pride, Oberweis Dairy and Cantigny Park.

High School Business and Marketing Seminars - The seminars, led by Cougars staff members, provide an inside look at the sports industry and give students a chance to enjoy a Cougars game. Schools attending this homestand include Naperville Central, Batavia, Burlington Central, Bolingbrook, Willowbrook, Minooka, Downers Grove South Prairie Ridge and Elk Grove.

Theme Nights - The first theme nights of the season take place on Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6 with Cinco de Mayo and Halfway to Halloween celebrations. For Cinco de Mayo Night, fans will be treated to pre-game performances from Mariachi Michoacana and Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcaotl. A mechanical bull will be set up in KidZone and food specials will be available for items such as our Three Tacos and Nacho Grande. On Halfway to Halloween, fans ae encouraged to dress in costume and take part in a pre-game parade on the field. Trick-or-treating stations will be located throughout the ballpark and The Ghostbusters Chicago Division will be making a special appearance.

Weekly Specials - The homestand will kick off with Micro Monday as all craft beers will be available for 50% off. On Tuesday and Wednesday all seniors, age 65 and older, in attendance will receive a complimentary hot dog and small soda for Seniors Eat Free Day. All seniors age 65 and older can also purchase box, reserved and lawn tickets for half price. Thirsty Thursday, presented by Miller Lite, will feature select beers, sodas and hot dogs for just a $1. In addition, each game will feature an opportunity for fans of all ages to run the bases.

Team Notes

After a homestand that saw them go 3-4 and dropping the series opener against the Dayton Dragons, the Cougars have returned to their winning ways following back-to-back shutouts of the Dayton Dragons. They hold an overall record of 12-8 heading into tonight's series finale with the Dragons which puts them in a tie for first place overall with the Clinton LumberKings.

Justin Donatella, who earned Midwest League Pitcher of the Week honors, during the opening week of the season has continued his stellar performance on the mound earning his third win on Wednesday in a six inning performance allowing just two hits against with six strikeouts. He currently leads the Cougars with three wins and his 0.39 ERA is first overall in the Midwest League.

Junior Garcia followed up Donatella's performance with a big outing last night going six innings allowing just one hit with three strikeouts. Garcia never allowed a Dragon base runner to advance into scoring position as he improved to 2-1 and now sits second overall on the team with 21 strikeouts with a 2.84 ERA.

Collectively, the Cougars pitching staff holds the league's best ERA (2.06) while sitting second best in strikeouts with 186.

Hot hitters for the Cougars include SS Robelys Reyes and 1B Trevor Mitsui. Reyes leads the Cougars with a .352 batting average good for ninth overall in the Midwest League while Mitsui leads the team with 12 RBIs and sits second overall with a .320 batting average. In the last two games against the Dragons, Mitsui has gone 3-8 with three RBIs. LF Matt McPhearson continues to use his speed around the bases as he leads the Cougars with eight stolen bases, third most in the Midwest League. C Luke Lowery broke a four-game hitless streak for a big night on Wednesday as he went 2-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. (Statistics through 4/28)

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